January 2008 Vol. 27. No. 1

Published by the Humboldt Senior Resource Center in Eureka, California. HSRC is a non-profit community-based organization offering services for senior citizens, multi-generational families and caregivers.

Warm beds
Ask HICAP: Using Your Medicare drug plan in 2008
Financial Abuse
A1AA: F.U.N. Play Center gives grandparents a place to call their own
Global Warming

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Warm beds
It’s the special gifts that make a community comfy
by Gail Hollingsworth

Photo caption Hilary Stephens holds two of her homemade cat beds. Photo by Barbara Clark

We have all met people who stand out as generous and just plain nice. One person for me is Hilary Stephens.

I met Hilary about four years ago when I was the Cat Lady at Miranda’s Rescue. One day Hilary came to the rescue with a huge bag over her shoulder. She reminded me of Santa Claus, only Hilary’s bag was filled with warm beds for our cats.

What a glorious gift. The cats loved them. Then time went by and the beds were washed and dried twice a week and began to wear down. Not a problem. Here came Hilary with more beds — twice as many this time.

I now coordinate the lunch site, Home-Delivered Meals and Animeals in Fortuna. Recently I saw Hilary and told her of my clients’ love for their animals — and lo and behold, she made beds for some of my clients’ animals. One client has two dogs and four cats and lives in a huge old barn. Now every time I deliver meals I see the animals cozy on their own beds. Everything is being used.

Another client has a spoiled cat who hides when I come. Hilary brought me a bed for that big guy, and he loves it — though he still ignores me. These animals are our clients’ best friends and give companionship and reasons to go on. These cat beds are a wonderful service to them.

With this article I want to pay tribute to Hilary’s kindness and generosity. Bless you and thank you.

Gail Hollinsgworth is the site coordinator for the Humboldt Senior Resource Center’s Senior Dining Center in Fortuna.

More to the story

Gail spent almost five years as the Cat Lady at Miranda’s Rescue. For most of that time she was driven by her passion for the animals, because only the last several months of that time was she a paid employee.

“Now I’m meeting people every day who remember me,” she said. “It brings me peace in my heart.”

Hilary got started making the cat beds when she wanted to do some kind of volunteer work — but her long hours in a job she loves kept her from making weekly volunteer commitments to an organization. She got started making the cat beds, which she can do at home on her own time, and has made hundreds over the past few years for the Sequoia Humane Society and Miranda’s Rescue.

“These are quick and easy,” she said. “I can make 40 beds in a week.” She cuts two-foot squares of fleece (larger for dogs) and sews them up on three sides. Then she fills them with thick quilt batting and sews the last side and inside in a big square to make sure the batting doesn’t move around.

Hilary works for ETI in Fields Landing in tech support. The company distributes bar top and table top coatings to hardware and craft stores. She designs craft projects on which to use the coatings and will be teaching project classes at Michael’s during the new year.

– by Barbara Clark, Senior News editor. She possesses the perfect cat, Angel, whom Gail found for her three years ago.